Massive rescue operations on; lakhs still stranded in J&K

Mammoth multi-agency rescue efforts were underway in Jammu and Kashmir today to rescue lakhs of people trapped in flood-ravaged areas, with IAF choppers and transport aircraft undertaking non-stop sorties overnight to carry men and relief material to submerged parts.

Rescue teams will be today focusing on the inundated city of Srinagar and south Kashmir belt where an estimated four lakh people are believed to be trapped in floods which have claimed nearly 200 lives in the state.

Two more units of Army and NDRF have been airdropped to Pancheri in Udhampur where 30 people are missing after a landslide hit the area.

"Seven bodies and a limb of a person have been so far recovered in Udhampur but the operation to locate those trapped is very difficult," DIG Garib Das said.

However, the situation in the rest of Jammu belt has stabilised and the focus is now on providing relief material on the ground, officials said.

They said a massive rescue and relief operation is on in Kashmir Valley with more helicopters and rescue material including boats pressed into service.

30 sorties of IL-76 and AN 32 have been undertaken to Srinagar overnight to carry men and relief material, boats cutters and other equipment besides huge quantity of medicines and water bottles.

Speaking about the rescue efforts, Army Lt Chetan said, "We are rescuing 10-15 people in every round we make per boat. We make 50-60 rounds per day. We have all equipment to rescue people. We will move out only after rescuing everybody".

Army Chief Gen Dalbir Suhag had said in Delhi yesterday that "Soldiers won't return to barracks until last man is helped."

Army medical officer Jagdish Singh said, "We have set up medical camps and are treating 230-300 people everyday.

"We have ambulances and surgeons. District hospitals and NGOs are also working with us," he said.

Lt Gen D S Hooda, General-Officer-Commanding of the Army's Northern Command had said yesterday that the focus will be now on Srinagar.

Two teams of NDRF equipped with 30 boats also reached Srinagar as the force launched 'intensive' operations to rescue people marooned and stranded by floods and rising waters.

 

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) chief O P Singh told PTI that 30 boats have been airlifted from Tamil Nadu's Arrakonam and have reached Sringar today along with a 100 personnel strong contingent of the force to undertake and bolster the ongoing rescue operations.

 

"We are going to conduct intensive rescue operations from today. The fresh addition of men and material will aid our teams in rescuing more and more people stranded by floods," Singh said.

 

He said these teams will first be deployed to rescue people from Badamibagh area of Srinagar.

 

A total of 10,470 people have been rescued by the NDRF till now as over 150 boats and other critical equipment has been lowered down in the flood affected areas, he said.

 

The worst floods to hit the state in six decades have claimed nearly 200 lives.